Onset of Itinerant Ferromagnetism in Cobalt-Nickel Heusler-Type Compounds

The magnetic properties of Co-Ni compounds with MnCu_{2}Al or MgAgAs-type structure (the Heusler phases) were studied. Paramagnetic, ferromagnetic moments, Curie's temperature increase with Co content. The ratio of ordered to paramagnetic moment varies with the Curie temperature following itinerant ferromagnetism models. A metal-insulator transition occurs in the TiCo_{x}Ni_{1-x}Sn series, which causes a more rapid drop of the Curie temperature than in TiCo_{x}Ni_{2-x}Sn solid solutions which remain metallic.